Also, interior designing has become a lucrative business in the contemporary for the few who have mastered the art. It is a goldmine, the new normal, for smart entrepreneurs. Interestingly, through apprenticeship, you too can master the art of interior design, and you can also study the program run by a host of schools around the world. However, for easy access to these “goldmine” schools, here are the 15 Best Interior Design Schools in the World. Once, when I moved into a new apartment, the space was scruffy and very indecent. As expected, I couldn’t deal, thus, I sought help from a friend. Transformation happened in less than a week. Funny enough, the deco was done by a college student. He was such a master at the art. Of course, you heard me, a student! It was his side-hustle and course of study in college. In this article, you’ll get to learn about interior design, its best schools, programs etc. In addition, this content will expose you to strategies that will help you make quicker and better choices. However, before we talk about these schools, let’s answer some specific questions about interior designs.
What is Interior Design?
Interior design can be primarily defined as the process of upgrading or magnifying the beauty and arrangement of a particular place. Essentially, this organization happens in a particular space using diverse designs and beautiful items. Years ago, interior decorations were part of the architect’s work description. The hub of interior decoration lied in sculptures, frames and engraved writings. Today, the story has changed as a lot of innovations have been introduced to increase available options.
Types of Interior Decoration
I bet you might be thinking that the same designs are not applied across all environments; you’re right. In essence, the same decorations used in schools will differ from those used in offices and residential areas. Therefore let’s take a look at the types of designs; Residential: This is basically a design used in housing apartments/private residences. In essence, these designs cut across different styles and patterns as individual tastes differ. Designers will face a big challenge when it comes to space management. Commercial: These are the designs that are executed across a lot of areas. These include;Corporate organizationsEducational institutionsSport hallsHospitalsRestaurants etc. Interestingly, a lot of designers face a bigger challenge here as these designs must suit the taste of many people.
Elements of Interior Design
According to collaborativepractice.com, certain elements are necessary for producing an astounding design. They outlined seven of them which include;
Space
Space is an important element which helps determine the structure of your decoration. Categorically, space has been divided into negative and positive space. The difference beckons on negative space being an empty space while positive space contains objects. The use of these spaces will vary according to the client’s taste and designers perspective. Consequently, proper use of space is one astounding skill that sets out excellent designers from average ones.
Line
Lines are a basic element that determines the aesthetic nature of a place. These lines cut across horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines. The incorporation of these lines will spark a certain sense of arrangement and can manipulate the spacing of the room.
Form
In interior decoration, forms refer to hard lines which are either geometric or natural. In addition, they can also be objects which are enclosed. The inclusion of similar shapes will bring balance and improve aesthetic.
Light
Primarily, lighting rides at the top of the list when considering the style of decoration you should use. I believe no one would appreciate a space without enough light. Most times, artificial lighting settings can be included however preference to natural light is considered.
Colour
Of course, colours give a soothing feeling to a room. Whether exhibited in painting or wallpapers, colours are actually determined by the type of activity that will be executed in that space. In conclusion, research has shown that lighter colours are better preferred in residential areas than in corporate offices.
Texture
Texture in design has to do with the impression that an environment expresses. In essence, it is how an individual can perceive what happens in the environment by looking at the design. Designers understand this aspect of their work and pay attention to what’s missing in the space.
Pattern
Pattern is the totality of the arrangement that occurs within a space. As a matter of fact, it’s what distinguishes two designs used in similar environments. Awesome designers never stick to one pattern as it can become boring. Therefore, versatility is key in building a strong career in interior designing.
Who is an Interior Designer?
An interior designer is a trained individual who performs the function of improving the beauty and nature of an environment. Moreso, they enhance an environment using different methods without destroying its natural elements. Interior designers work in diverse environments ranging from museums, corporate offices, schools down to residential apartments. For this reason, their importance cannot be overemphasized. And if you’re convinced it’s the path you wish to follow, let’s get you a list of some basic skills you need to have.
What skills do I need to become an Interior Designer?
You can become an excellent interior designer when you possess a basic skill set. Technically, your skill sets will increase your creativity in addition to expanding your eye for detail. The necessary skill sets include;
How much does an Interior Designer Earn?
I guess you would want to know how much money a designer collects as his paycheck as well as how often he does that. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, an interior designer can earn as much as $53,370 per year. However, your earnings will be affected by your country as well as your area of specialization.
What are the available Interior Design programs?
You can pursue interior design as a field of study under diverse programs. Basically, these programs are sectioned into;
Associate Degree
An associate degree program is a post-secondary education program. In essence, this is your first two years in a bachelor program. Interior design students pursuing an associate degree will need to complete 60-64 hours of study. In addition, they must possess a minimum CGPA of 3.0. Interestingly, you get qualified to work as a design assistant after you have completed this degree. But you need to possess a bachelor degree so as to meet entry-level positions.
Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor degree will give you the necessary technical skills used in designing. Moreso, you get to learn about business skills. You get to build codes, understand design theory as well as communication techniques under the bachelor degree program.
Master’s Degree
Funnily enough, individuals who are not designers can enter the field through this program. Essentially, students get to write a project in a certain design area. They can specialize in their interested area of design.
Doctorate Degree
You are prepared to lecture interior design at this level. In addition, you get to conduct design research and study a lot of literature. Conclusively, you get to lecture interior design at the University or work in the Ministry.
Certificate Programs
It is important to note that certificate programs have diverse requirements. However, you need to possess a high school diploma or bachelor degree at the least. Finally, a lot of these programs have two years of coursework in addition to 60 hours of classes.
How do you choose a good Interior Design Program?
If you want to choose an interior design program, you may need to consider certain factors. These factors you’ll consider will basically revolve around your time, money and pursuit. As a matter of fact, your academic qualifications will play a bigger role in influencing your decision. You need a higher school diploma at the least to enter for an associate program. Similarly, you need a higher school diploma and a minimum level of CGPA in order to get into a bachelor program. A Master’s program and a PhD program share similar requirements such as thesis and coursework.
15 Best Interior Design Schools in the World
As expected, a lot of the schools where you can study interior design are located in Europe and America. Most of the universities share similar courses while others have a different outline. Therefore, here are the top 15 interior design schools in the world;
After the founders died, the University struggled to maintain its standard. On another hand, the provost encouraged the students by promoting entrepreneurial programs. There are three traditional schools which consist of forty academic departments. In addition, there are four professional schools that focus on graduate programs. Today, Stanford University is popularly known for its funding of startups and entrepreneurial programs. Moreso, they have created over 5 million jobs through their businesses. In 2019, the institution was ranked 4th among the universities around the world by SCImago Institutions Rankings. Additionally, Times Higher Education recognized Stanford as one of the world’s “six super brands” on its World Reputation Rankings Conclusively, when you talk about amazing interior design schools, Standford cannot be left out. Chelsea College offers education courses in graphic design, spatial and textile design. Notably, these programs are taught up to the PhD level. The Hammersmith School of Art merged with the Chelsea School of Art in 1908. As expected, this merger caused them to diversify into more areas and expand their reach. Interestingly, there are three exhibition centres in the college. They include; Chelsea Space, The Parade Ground and the Triangle Gallery. In the main campus of this school, you have access to over 200 majors for undergraduate students, 69 Master’s and doctoral degree programs. As a matter of fact, this University has the fourth-largest students body of any university in the United States. There are five campuses in this school which comprise of; Purdue mall, memorial mall, south campus, west campus and stadium avenue. Consistently, they have been ranked among the best institutes for art and design. RISD is popularly ranked as the top art and design school in the United States. Therefore, this makes it one of the top choice institutes for design students to study. In conclusion, RISD was listed among Forbes’ America’s Top Colleges in 2018 in addition to being ranked 4th by the QS World University Rankings amongst Art & Design programs. As expected, this school runs several programs. These programs run from the Bachelor, Masters down to Doctorate degree. Over the past five years, NYSID has been ranked in the top five interior design schools in the States. Conclusively, the institute runs programs in courses such as graphic design, fashion etc. You can get enlisted into any of the 90 undergraduate programs with a major focus on science and education. In conclusion, the residence halls in these institutions have been recognized for being comfortable. The institute has six high ranking schools in both the undergraduate and master’s degree programs. The school of arts has the Department of Foundation Art, Art and Design Education and Department of Design Management. An interior designer is an individual who upgrades the beauty of an environment using different elements. The university has a host of campuses with similar housing models. As a matter of fact, it’s student housing system is regarded as one of the best in the U.S. The U.S. News & World Report ranks Auburn as the 104th best national university overall in the U.S. The University has been notably recognized as one of the highest enrolling institutes. Moreso, it enrolls over 13,000 from across the United States. An amazing campus bubbling with life in addition to an awesome line of programs makes it one of the best interior design schools in the world. The campus buildings are known for their beautiful designs which are similar to the housing facilities. You may be wondering what makes this institute so exceptional that it takes the 4th position in our list of best interior design schools. In reality, it’s nothing exceptional. The interior design school touches on important areas of the subject thereby creating room for improvement and creativity. This college offers several graduate degree in education and is known as the hub of Women Writers. Under its design program, the academy offers a lot of programs ranging from bachelor to PhD programs. FDA continues to grow stronger and stronger matching creativity with practical and useable designs. The Arts & Design department of the school has notably recorded a good number of outstanding achievements. In conclusion, a notable alumni of the institution is Julia Klumpke. A well-known concert violinist and composer Even though, you don’t need to be educated to become an interior decorator; what is worth doing is worth being excellent at. So, an education will give you that excellence. The price ranges differ due to policies and structure. You can check the article written above to make a great choice. There are a plethora of options available to you depending on your qualifications. However, you can go for an associate degree with a high school diploma. In doing this, you don’t have to work yourself out, you only need to learn from individuals who are more experienced than you. That being said, if you’re looking for flexibility in work, interior designing is an area that should interest you.
